Striker Tommy Smith came good at the perfect time to fire Sunderland into the
last 16 of the FA Cup.
Smith was forced to wait until Boxing Day for his first goal of the season
after signing from Watford in September, but he took his chance at Portman Road
with an excellent finish in the absence of suspended Marcus Stewart.
The forward had watched from the sidelines with an ankle injury during
Sunderland's third-round victory over Hartlepool, but his goal on the stroke of
half-time stung Ipswich, and Julio Arca wrapped up the win after the interval
before Ipswich snatched a late consolation.
McCarthy was forced to alter his starting line-up with Stewart banned and
on-loan midfielder Kevin Cooper denied permission to play by Wolves.
Paul Thirlwell and Darren Williams came into the side, but the Black Cats
looked short of ideas early on without the influence of Stewart up front.
Ipswich also struggled to create chances, and the visitors almost opened the
scoring with their first real attack after 13 minutes.
Williams' cross into the box was chested down by Kevin Kyle, and the Scotland
international drove a shot on the turn narrowly wide of the post.
John McGreal's off-target volley was a rare opportunity for Ipswich although
Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom kept his side level with a good save from Jim
Magilton with 17 minutes gone.
Tommy Miller also threatened with a long-range shot which deflected off Jeff
Whitley before it could trouble Poom, but Kelvin Davis was then forced into a
decent block to keep out Smith's strike.
Miller saw another goalbound effort block by Sunderland defender Joachim
Bjorklund, and Ian Westlake fired wide from outside the box as Ipswich increased
the tempo.
But a disappointing 45 minutes came to life just before half-time when Smith
struck for the visitors.
Williams' cross fell to the Sunderland striker, who controlled the ball before
driving a clinical shot beyond Davis and into the bottom corner of the net.
Ipswich responded well after the restart with Pablo Counago firing wide from a
promising position, but Jason McAteer and Julio Arca both threatened Davis as
Sunderland went for the jugular.
And the game was settled in the 68th minute when Arca struck for the third
time in three games.
Poom denied Shefki Kuqi with an excellent block, and the Black Cats
immediately broke up field before Fabian Wilnis ended the attack by fouling
Thirlwell.
McAteer's drove the resulting free-kick straight at Davis in the Ipswich goal,
but the keeper spilled the ball and Arca pounced to hammer home the rebound.
Ipswich knew they were beaten but continued to throw players forward, and
Royle's side were rewarded when Poom parried Kuqi's strike into the path of
Martijn Reuser, who hit the net in the final minute.
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